WESTFIELD - The original Great River Bridge was temporarily retired Tuesday with the opening of a new span across the Westfield River that will serve traffic flow until the older bridge is rehabilitated.

Eventually both bridges will serve traffic flow in and out of the downtown, one for north bound and the other for south bound travelers.

The overall bridge project, started about two years ago after more than 20 years in planning, has a price tag of about $60 million. General contractor for the project is J. F. White Construction Company of Framingham.